Shosh Atari has endured a long battle with kidney disease and was forced to undergo a kidney transplant in recent years. Atari’s funeral will be held Wednesday at 3:30 pm at the Yarkon Cemetery.

Atari was really and truly Israel radio’s leading lady. She was born in the Sha’arim neighborhood in Rehovot, one of seven children including two renowned sisters. She was sent to the Hadasim boarding school at the age of 14, along with sister Gali, and during her military service worked for IDF Radio.

Shosh Atari with sister Gali, nephew Momi Levy (Photo: Anat Mosberg)

After completing her military service she worked for the Israeli Broadcasting Authority, and then went on to study English at Cambridge University, while working as a Hebrew teacher in the local Jewish community. When she returned to Israel,
she worked as a broadcaster and musical director for all the various stations in the IBA Radio Networks.

Working for Reshet Gimmel, one of the IBA radio stations, Atari had her own daily segment, entitled “New and Improved”, which she presented for over 20 years. She also hosted a TV program entitled “Pitzuchim” on Channel 1 for more than 10 years.

Atari broadcast her own program on IBA’s Reshet Gimel until 1996, when she opted to work for local radio station Radio Lev Hamedina.

Atari was diagnosed with kidney disease in 1999, and published a book entitled “Secrets and Lies” in 2004. In 2007 she took part in the comedy series directed by Yael Poliakov entitled “Hakol Davsh” (“everything is peachy”). She acted alongside the late, great Yisrael “Poli” Poliakov
in this series.

Radio personality Noam Gilor said in reaction to Atari’s death, “She was a broadcaster of unique and exceptional quality, able to combine extremely intelligent radio with a very grassroots spirit. She could appeal to people at eye level, but do so with exceptional intelligence and wit.”